This was the first time we’d talked about my
time there. Everyone avoided the topic, afraid
of upsetting me.
“Terrified,” I said honestly.
Suddenly, I was bombarded with questions.
“Did they really… try to harvest your organs?
Sell you to… those places? Take those kinds of photos?”
“I heard they do live streams. Is that true?”
“How did you survive?”
Everyone talked over each other, their questions making my head spin. I couldn’t think straight.
6
I was overwhelmed with fear, unsure if they
were driven more by pity or morbid Curiosity
of
The memory of being sold flooded back
There were others sold with me, both girls and
boys Greasy men sized us up, dragging girls
into flimsy wooden shacks for “inspections”
Scarface set my price at five thousand dollars
Potential buyers scoffed, and when the price wasn’t met, they dragged away a pale young man instead Then they decided to force me into live streaming, making me sign a contract, forcing me to take drugs. Disobedience meant the basement, and endless forture. Within days, most of the others were gone, some dead from the shacks, some driven insane in the basement
Desperate to survive, I lied
“know your boss. He owes me money.”
They erupted in laughter. “He owes you money?
We’d be
<
12:29
“If I didn’t know him, how would you know my
name is Emily? Kill me, and see if he comes after you.” I was all in.
“Oh yeah? How’d a guy like the Boss event notice you?” They thought it was a joke.
“He forced a kiss on me. I slapped him. This is
his revenge. When he comes to his senses,
you’ll all pay.”
They were still laughing when one of them spoke up. “I heard Fly talking on the phone the other day. It did sound like the Boss met a girl
on the highway. That cold–blooded bastard never talks about girls.”
“Yeah, that psycho. We can’t mess with him.
Let’s just forget it.”
They started to waver. In the end, they agreed
£2
<
to sell me for a hundred bucks to a worker in
Jake’s camp.
7
I soon saw Jake. He emerged from the jungle,
surrounded by men. It was the first time I saw
him clearly. He wore camouflage, taller than the
rest, with a buzz cut and a bloody knife in his
hand. He stared at me for a moment, then
tossed the knife at my feet. “Clean it.”
“Okay,” I said, my hands shaking as I washed
the knife.
“You know a washed knife rusts?” He pinched
my cheek, forcing me to look at him.
“I… I didn’t know. I’m sorry.” I quickly
apologized.
“Can you swim?” He leaned closer.
“No.” My heart pounded.
<
“Try getting close to me again, and I’ll throw
you in the river.” Without hesitation, he turned
and walked away.
“You… you still owe me a bag of chips!” That
jerk, so ungrateful.
“Oh? Is that all?” He stopped, glancing back.
“And… and a lot of other snacks.” His
murderous glare terrified me.
“I’ll have someone burn them for you later.” His
smile vanished. “This isn’t the place for you.”
His men threw me in the river. I choked, passed
out, and woke up to an old fisherman pulling me
ashore. He was an immigrant from China, years
ago. He asked if I wanted to be his wife. If not,
he’d sell me. I asked if he knew Jake.
“What’s your relationship with him?” The
fisherman trembled at the name.
<
“He asked it I wanted to be his wite. I said no,
so he threw me in the river.”
The old man was terrified. He paid some men
to take me back to Jake’s territory. That’s when
I realized how useful Jake’s name was. To get home, I started playing my own game.
8
I spent a few days doing chores, biding my time. One day, I was washing clothes by the river when Jake and a group of menacing- looking men arrived in trucks, facing off in the jungle. I wanted to dive into the river and disappear, to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.
But their leader, a bald guy, beckoned me over.
“What are you doing washing clothes? Want us
to blow up some fish for you?”
His men roared with laughter.
<
“I’ll… I’ll just go back then. You guys continue,” I
stammered, turning to flee.
A knife whizzed past my ear, embedding itself
in the ground in front of me.
“Well, well, Jake. You got a fine piece of ass.
here, and you’re making her wash clothes?” he
taunted. “Come here, sweetheart. He doesn’t
appreciate you, but I do.”
I froze.
“I suggest you go home and look in the mirror.
If you can’t afford one, I’ll have my men burn.
one for you,” Jake said calmly, eyes fixed on
- me. “Come here.”
“What makes you so cocky, Jake?” Baldy raged.
“You’ll find out soon enough.” Jake snapped
his fingers, and men poured out of the
surrounding jungle, surrounding Baldy’s group.
<
Panic flashed across their faces.
